Cranial clamp and method for fixating a bone plate

A clamp assembly for repairing a bone defect in a cranium and operable to fix a bone plate relative the surrounding cranium, each of the bone plate and surrounding cranium having a near face and a far face, the clamp assembly comprising:

• a base;
• a cap having an internally threaded collar formed therethrough;
• an externally threaded elongate post rotatably attached to the base and extending through the collar in said cap;
• an applier operable to rotate the post to position the cap relative to the base in a fastening position on the adjacent bone plate and surrounding cranium, and the applier being removable from the post while leaving the cap and base interconnected;
• and
• wherein the internally threaded collar of the cap engages the externally threaded post to position the cap and base in a fastening position.

A method of fixing a bone plate in a bony defect, wherein the bone plate has opposing internal and external surfaces that are to be held in position substantially co-planar with internal and external surfaces of surrounding bone, and a transverse face of the bone plate is to be fixed in apposition against a transverse face of the surrounding bone along a border of junction between the bone plate and surrounding bone, the method comprising:

• rotatably connecting an elongated externally threaded post to a base;
• extending the post through a cap to engage the threaded post with the cap;
• positioning the base and cap on opposing internal and external surfaces of the bone plate, with a portion of each of the base and cap overlapping the border of junction;
• and
• rotating an applier to cause the post to rotate in the base and position the cap and base in a fastening position wherein the base and cap are in tight engagement against the opposing internal and external surfaces of the bone plate.